Thursday, December 18, 2014

Discovered much treasure in a false bottomed chest! Two magical scrolls!

Ambushed four lizardmen and the monk was pummeled to within an inch of his life.

Tricked two lizards into leaving their lair.

Discovered much treasure! A Red Apple Cup that will heal the weary when filled with with apple based alcohol, made by hobbits no doubt (when cider is poured into this goblet, it may be drunk to heal 2d8+4hps, once a week).

Also an old lizardman named Wrecan who offered all his knowledge in exchange for help escaping to a safer swamp.

Left the the Fane of the Sun Swallower to return to the Dw-Orcs hideout.

Ambushed Dw-Orcs and drove them off, killing their mother. Took one prisoner.

Found a large dragon egg and used a Unseen Servant to hide it in the small swamp skiff.

Addendum:

The Mirror of Truth does not reflect illusions. Resident Devil Palmonides will answer one more question for Althea. He says that Arrows of Dragon Slaying are held in the Fortress of the Warlord Monks, 100 miles from Blackmarsh, in the northern chaos wastes of the Kraal. This happens to be where Que was trained as an monk. The fortress was corrupted by Chaos.

Monday, December 1, 2014

In Pursuit of Death Itself

Having recovered from their travails and thoroughly sick of the spoilt brat of an elf princess, the heroes responded with favor to the Good Knight Sir Istivin's request for assistance. The town of Cromm's Hold had been attacked by a night dragon! It only left when given the ransom of a forgotten relic of Water.While the folk of the town buried their dead and rebuilt their walls, Althea the Enchantress, Per the dour ranger, Q the Monk of Ellsworth, and Artamesis Witchling of the Elf Queen, braved a fetid swamp in search of the thieving dragon, crowded in a small boat, poling their way through a maze of foxtail, will-o-whisps, and reeds. They slept in a mysterious shipwreck miles from the sea. They battled dwarfling-orcs before discovering a ruined Temple of the Sun, inhabited by Lizardfolks and fiery glanded beetles, whom they slew mercilessly, gaining many treasures.A dank eve passed in a mouldering library and the heroes steeled their nerves for more adventure!

They Rescue an Elven Princess

A sylvan fellowship of itinerant castaways met for a drink in a blackened oak overlooking a smoking bay, hazy in the light of a winter sun.

Before long, they were drinking with the prince of the manor himself. He told them a sad story of a lost sister many moons ago, who jeweled broach had been returned that very day by a peddler who peddled in the foothills of the Klarkasch Mountains.

Happy to help, the group walked a day and a half to a pile of rocks that cleverly concealed an ancient dwarven watchtower.

They were moved by the tears of a small girl who was not an elf. They chased the Fawn into the rocks where they were ambushed by soporific old man. He mustn't have seen the pointy ears, for his spell did naught to the fey folk, who approached him straight away and demanded an apology. The old man was smitten by a strong willed white witch and invited them in for tea.

Upon crossing the furrowed threshold a bratty voice shrieked and complained and ultimately commanded a rusty old clockwork robot to assail the group.

It was rough going for a moment as the young martial artist Q went toe to toe with the thing, but then the White Witch snatched little Elsbeth's chain and the Red Wizardess charmed the girl and soon enough the situation calmed down.

The wizard disappeared. The elven princess was brought home to her father to his great joy and chagrin, and the party was handsomely rewarded, with blue jewels and with the wizard's ill-gotten gains (a magical Bag of Holding was procured, the shopper's dream!)

Here lieth the public record of our lovely first D&DV campaign. They players discovered the Lost Mines of Phandalin and routed the evils within. Gundren the Dwarf and Nooner the Hobbit now run the place as a lucrative mining cooperative. Althea's adventures continue...

Phandalin Gazette Spring

"Four strangers walked into our town today, dragging a snotnosed goblin behind them. They had wagon full of supplies for the town that we were all very happy to receive. They even brought some goods to the Lionshield Coster that old Linene had completely given up for lost to bandits. The strangers went to the Townmaster, who didn't impress them much but he locked their goblin in his cell and offered 100gp if for the heads of 20 orcs from Wyvern Tor. They visited the Stonehill Inn and Nooner reacquainted himself with the innkeeper Toby, who told them the Red Brands gang had been getting worse, extorting the town and even killing the Woodworker and taking his family! This was no good. After a short visit to Sister Gahaele of the Lucky Lady Shrine, and a late night visit to the Miner's Exchage proprietor, the fiery Halia, these new to towners proceeded to the Old Manor Hill by way of Alderlead farm. There they were lead by a quarterling named Carp to a secret tunnel entrance that lead to a creepy cavern with a chasm. The group chose to sneak left/West where they found a door at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Rashly opening the door, there were discovered therein three large and hairy goblins tormenting a tiny runt of a goblin. The goblins were confused at first, but violence focused their minds and they attacked with fury.When the battle was over, Red Branch guards were running down the hall to investigate but they forgot to look under the bed and soon followed a fleeing goblin rather than look under the bed...

Phandalin Gazette Summer

It seems the wizard had been seduced by the powerful promises of this Black Spider. Next stop, Cragmaw Castle! But in the meantime the elf wizard is hard at work scribing while the others enjoy a well earned flagon of ale. The townspeople are helpful, but worry there is more to do, flushing out a rumored band of Orcs, for instance. Gather provisions and prepare for the two day trek to the Crags of the Goblin King.

Hero of the town! Those who stood up to the ruffians plaguing Phandalin have left the burgeoning burg to search for their lost cousin, brother of the same stone, Gundren, who may be held captive in the Goblin Castle of Cragmaw, just within the Grimm Forest. Indeed the castle perches seven towers haphazardly atop a rocky tor, doors ajar and masonry crumbling. A stealthy approach was soon scuppered by a silent kick upon a door, disturbing the meal making of the goblin fleet, and setting up a blood bath of greenskinned chaos.The running battle came to a close thanks to the Sleep spell of Althea and the skull splitting axe of the new boy, Toulon GoblinCleaver. Still, the halfling was sore wounded, and the fighter as well, nearly eaten by a tentalcled and beaked foe. They took stock of golden prayers tools, even as the sun began to set outside, and the gobbo Danzig lover had gotten away. The party is wounded, low on spells, but determined to make their mark.

Phandalin Gazette Fall

Lo, the intrepid three had lost a friend to the tentacles of crawling beast out of time yet they forged ahead, unwilling to leave a task unfinished, yet they kept their wits about them. In the heart of an inhospitable lair they hatched a plan. The redheaded Althea used her mystic arts to disguise herself so that she looked to all as one of the hulking hairy goblin kind that lurked about these ruins. If only she could sound like one! Drawing her companions along as if captured prisoners, she came upon a barracks with two skinny brutes bewildered and terrified to release a great beast who pushed out from behind the door. An owl-headed bear! The dwarf offered it warm rations, and then a freshly slain goblin to sate its insatiable hunger and the three decamped to the camp of the Goblin King Grol, long of beard and broad of axe. Again, Althea's trickery came to the fore as she Charmed the old man with pleasantries and turned him to battling his own formerly captive owlbear, which was to be the death of him. With the escape of the Dark Elf, King Grol dead, and Cousin Gundren rescued and revived, the heroes headed home to Phandalin, to carouse and recoup, and think of the lost riches of Wave Echo Cave, said to hold the very Forge of Spells.

The Castle of Dreams

This castle whereonto I fleeWhen life and time hang wearily.Yet though so far, 'tis strangely nigh:Within the breathing of a sighOne gains the walls secure and highOf the castle of dreams.

Divinely beautiful and great,Of pearl each dome and tower, and gate,It stands, a hold of kingly state.There gyving Time and Space are not,And cares of Life are all forgot.No breath of restless change is broughtTo the Castle of Dreams.

I walk each wondrous court and hall,Their varied treasures mine at call,For there I am the lord af all.If gold and gems of land and sea,And broad estates were offered me,I would not take them for the keyOf the Castle of Dreams.